Cash boost for families touched by addiction
People in Stirling recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and their families have been given a boost.
Forth Valley Recovery Community (FVRC) has received £2000 to help in its mission to make recovery accessible for individuals, their families and the wider community in Forth Valley.
The group was given money from the STV’s Children’s Appeal.
Run by the community for the community, FVRC hosts daily recovery cafes and events, organised by community members who have had their own experiences of the issues.
The cafes are safe, drug and alcohol free events which help members build, develop and maintain their recovery. Their holistic approach includes activities like meditation, climbing, yoga and outdoor walking groups.
FVRC want to break the cycle of addiction and support community members to become volunteers, attend training sessions and gain employment opportunities.
Projects that support families affected by addiction are felt to be an important part of reducing child poverty.
Recovery development worker Scott Ferguson said: “FVRC did for me what previous services couldn’t do. I felt like I belonged for the first time. People here believed in me before I believed in myself and I finally felt a sense of hope.
“Coming to the community meant my family began to trust me again, meaning I now have access to my wee boy. The biggest thing this service has given me is seeing my family recover.”
“We aim to support as many people as possible in the Forth Valley area with recovery,” added recovery development team leader Tom Bennett, “and challenge stigma, creating a community that supports people to support themselves and their families.
“The money from the STV Children’s Appeal will be used to provide fitness and yoga classes for children during our recovery cafes and mutual aid meetings. “This will remove significant barriers for parents and also provide a health and wellbeing focus for the children.”